Enforcement of the Weights and Measures Act

Weights and measures legislation is enforced by Local Weights and Measures Authorities (LWMAs). Details of your LWMA can be found by entering your post code at the following link on the Chartered Trading Standards Institute website.

Local authorities’ trading standards departments deliver the local enforcement of most of the UK’s weights and measures legislation. To promote consistency and best practice, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPS&S) works closely with the national co-ordinating body, local government and the professional institute for inspectors of weights and measures - CTSI - as well as with regional groups of local authorities and individual inspectors.

Statutory obligations

Under the Weights and Measures act 1985 LWMAs have statutory obligations:

under section 72 of the act each LWMA shall appoint a chief inspector of weights and measures who holds the section 73 qualification certificate

under section 70 of the act LWMA have a statutory requirement to report to the Secretary of State the level of local weights and measures enforcement work conducted over a twelve month period

under section 4 of the act LWMA shall maintain standards (local standards) of the measures and weights set out in schedule 3 to this act

Section 70 return and reports

Every LWMA in the UK is required to report the level of local enforcement work conducted over a 12 month period under section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985. This information is then collated into an annual report by OPS&S which is used to create a risk matrix which identifies the risk of equipment failing and the level of consequences of that risk. This then enables LWMAs to identify which areas their resources should be prioritised towards using targeted inspections. This is the format as agreed by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985. Read this publication of our reports and returns on enforcement work carried out.

National metrology projects

For a number of years, LWMAs have taken part in national metrology projects, organised to add value to the inspectional work done by individual trading standards services as part of their local responsibility. These have been undertaken across the UK, focused on a particular subject and nationally collated.

OPS&S, along with the British Standards Institution (BSI), the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), also oversees standardisation, testing, measurement, certification and accreditation in the UK as part of the UK’s National Quality Infrastructure (UKQI).

Market surveillance projects

OPS&S has a statutory duty under the Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments (NAWI) and Measuring Instruments (MID) directives to carry out market surveillance activities. This is to ensure instruments that do not comply with the provisions of the directive are neither placed on the market or put into use. In order to achieve this statutory requirement OPS&S co-ordinates yearly market surveillance projects.

Hallmarking

OPS&S has policy (legislative) responsibility for the hallmarking of precious metal articles. We are responsible for implementing UK legislation and any subsequent amendments to allow growth and development in hallmarking.

We are also the sponsor group of the British Hallmarking Council (BHC), a non-departmental public body set up by the Hallmarking Act 1973 to oversee hallmarking activities within the UK.

For further information on the BHC and hallmarking please visit the BHC website.

Measuring container bottles

Measuring container bottles (MCB) are containers (normally bottles) used for the storage, transportation and delivery of liquids and are designed to be stoppered. They are made of glass or any other substance having such rigidity and stability that it has the same characteristics as glass. MCBs are required to display a manufacturer’s mark, their nominal quantity and (if not filled to the brim) the distance between the fill level and the brim. They are regulated though Directive 75/107/EEC and the Measuring Container Bottles (EEC requirements) Regulations 1997.

Legal metrology training and International consultancy

Local standards

The assessment of weight or measure is an essential element in the process of commerce. Standardisation of those weights and measures is the duty of every government across the globe. Every assessment of weight or measure from the informal to international contracts relies on a common understanding of a reference point and unit of measurement. In the UK today the primary units of measurement are clearly defined and are accepted across the world. However, the dissemination of those units from the ‘perfect’ kilogram held in Paris or the ‘perfect’ metre defined by the use of a specified laser down to the measures used in trade transactions has posed questions of government for as long as standards have existed. This page is designed for use by LWMAs to report the status of their standards holding and any approvals they have or wish to apply for from OPS&S for nil or partial holding of local standards.

Several old approach directives were revoked under the MID. EEC certificates, which have been issued under these old approach directives, continue to be valid until their date of expiry but cannot be renewed. These certifcates continue to apply to instruments that have been verified and are in use.

7000 series specifications for weights and measures (SWM)

Competency

There are 6 multi media competency modules which guide you through a variety of metrological situations. Each includes training videos and a self assessment tool at the end of each programme to gauge your understanding. A further learning tool allows you to investigate these areas in more depth.

Exams

The diploma in consumer affairs and trading standards (DCATS) is a qualification for the whole of trading standards. One element of a module for DCATS is a practical and oral weights and measures examination and completion and passing is a statuary requirement due to section 73 Weights and Measures Act 1985. The examinations take place in November and are held at the Teddington office of OPS&S.

3 June 2016
List of authorised stamp numbers for use by LWMA and approved verifiers updated

11 February 2016
List of authorised stamp numbers for use by LWMA and approved verifiers has been updated.

15 October 2015
Bulk milk measurement project has been completed and the final report published.

14 October 2015
Every Local Weights and Measures Authority in the UK is required to report the level of local enforcement work conducted over a 12 month period under section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985. The Section 70 report for 2014 to 2015 been published in this guidance.

2 July 2015
The national legal metrology project for 2014 to 2015 covered medical weighing instrument located in doctors’ surgeries, pharmacies and health centres. The final report has now been published.

17 June 2015
The weights and measures bulletins and guidance section of this page has been updated to include an attachment that explains the impact of the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) after 30th October 2016 for National and European certification requirements pre and post 2016. This guidance note is for business and trading standards.

9 April 2015
Every Local Weights and Measures Authority (LWMA) in the UK is required to report the level of local enforcement work conducted over a 12 month period under section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985. The updated Section 70 Return form is now available on this guide. All LWMA’s must complete and return their report to NMRO before 30 June 2016.

20 January 2015
Invitation to participate in 2015 to 16 national metrology project which will focus on the competency of verifiers (approved verifiers and approved manufacturers) within the fuel dispenser, weighbridge and bulk fuel industries.

13 October 2014
The annual report of Weights and Measures activity conducted by Local Authorities as now been published, it is the Section 70 report 2013 to 2014.

20 August 2014
National Measurement Office has updated the guide on enforcement of Weights and Measures to include a section titled Market Surveillance. This section covers an invitation for Local Authorities to participate in a national project on Weights and Measures enforcement relating to Non-automatic Weighing Instruments up to 50kg.